Interior Ministry imposes motorbike ban in Binduri after deadly ambush on military convoy

The Ministry of the Interior has announced an immediate ban on the use of motorcycles in Binduri Township and surrounding areas in the Upper East Region following a deadly attack on a Ghana Armed Forces convoy that claimed the lives of three civilians.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak said the measure is necessary to maintain law and order, protect lives and property, and support ongoing security operations.

“Any person who contravenes this directive will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the statement warned.

The decision comes after armed men ambushed a military convoy escorting approximately 140 civilians along the Bawku–Bolgatanga road near Binduri on April 27, 2026. Three civilians were killed in the attack, and one other sustained injuries.

Security forces returned fire during the exchange, killing seven of the assailants. Troops later recovered a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and 176 rounds of ammunition from a suspect who had fled to a mosque.

According to the Ghana Armed Forces, 21 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are assisting police with investigations. Naval Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director-General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, stated that operations are ongoing to track down other suspects.

The Ministry has appealed to chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youth, and residents of Binduri and nearby communities to remain calm and resolve any concerns through lawful means.

Binduri has faced recurring security restrictions since March 2025, when a curfew was imposed following violence linked to the longstanding Bawku chieftaincy dispute. The conflict between Kusasi and Mamprusi groups over claims to the paramountcy has led to periodic clashes in parts of the Upper East Region over the years.

The curfew, backed by an Executive Instrument, has been renewed several times on the advice of the Upper East Regional Security Council and the National Security Council.